Trees have long captured human imagination, not just for their beauty or ecological importance, but for their staggering size. Among their many superpowers storing carbon, producing oxygen, anchoring soil some trees add another trait to the list: being unbelievably tall. Towering above the forest floor like living skyscrapers, these giants reach heights few organisms can match.
Though there’s a theoretical limit to how tall a tree can grow generally estimated between 400 and 426 feet (122 to 130 meters) the species on this list come astonishingly close. Here are 10 of the world’s tallest trees, each representing the highest-known specimen of its kind.
10. King Stringy — 282 Feet (86 Meters)
Located in Tasmania, Australia, King Stringy is a brown top stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua). Its name comes from the thick, fibrous bark that peels off in long, string-like strips. Also called messmate or Tasmanian oak, this tree proves that cartoonish names can mask real-world grandeur.
9. Alpine Ash in Florentine Valley — 288 Feet (88 Meters)
This Eucalyptus delegatensis specimen, also known as alpine ash or gum-topped stringybark, lives in Tasmania’s Florentine Valley. The region is known for its pristine old-growth eucalyptus forests, and this tree is one of the tallest of its species.
8. Neeminah Loggorale Meena — 298 Feet (91 Meters)
Another Tasmanian marvel, this blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) teeters on the edge of a logging zone saved only by a law that protects trees over 85 meters tall. A close call, but today, this tree stands as a monument to conservation.
7. White Knight — 301 Feet (92 Meters)
Found in Evercreech Forest Reserve in Tasmania, White Knight refers to a group of towering manna gums (Eucalyptus viminalis) believed to be over 300 years old. Tasmania continues to stand out as a global haven for sky-piercing eucalyptus trees.
6. Yellow Meranti in Borneo — 309 Feet (94 Meters)
Shorea faguetiana, or yellow meranti, thrives in Borneo’s Danum Valley Conservation Area. One of Southeast Asia’s tallest native species, its close relatives are equally impressive, including a nearly identical tree in Malaysia’s forests.
5. Unnamed Giant Sequoia — 314 Feet (96 Meters)
Though not the tallest tree in the world, the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is unmatched in volume. One tree, General Sherman, has over 52,000 cubic feet of wood. Sequoias typically boast massive trunks up to 35 feet in diameter and can live for thousands of years.
4. Raven’s Tower — 317 Feet (97 Meters)
Hidden deep within California’s Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, the exact location of this Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) is kept secret. Like many of the tallest trees, Raven’s Tower is protected by anonymity, helping ensure its survival.
3. Doerner Fir — 327 Feet (100 Meters)
A coastal Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) located in Oregon’s Coos County, Doerner Fir is among the tallest non-redwood trees. Though many old-growth Douglas firs have been lost to logging, this one remains a testament to the Pacific Northwest’s forest heritage.
2. Centurion — 327.5 Feet (100 Meters)
Centurion is the tallest-known Eucalyptus regnans on Earth. Found in Tasmania’s Arve Valley, it narrowly beats Doerner Fir in height and claims the title of tallest known hardwood tree. It even enjoys celebrity status in its native land, frequently featured in environmental campaigns and tourism materials.
1. Hyperion — 380.1 Feet (116 Meters)
The current world record holder, Hyperion is a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) tucked away in a hidden section of Redwood National Park, California. Discovered in 2006, the tree is estimated to be 700 to 800 years old. If not for damage by woodpeckers at its crown, it might have grown even taller.
Hyperion is joined by other redwood giants in the park, including Helios, Icarus, and Daedalus all named for mythic figures who, fittingly, dared to defy the heavens.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How are these trees measured?
Scientists usually climb the tree and drop a tape measure to the ground a technique used to confirm Hyperion’s height. - Can trees grow taller than Hyperion?
Theoretically, no. Most researchers agree trees have a height limit due to gravity and water transport limitations. But they can continue growing in girth indefinitely. - Why are redwoods and eucalyptus trees so tall?
Both species grow in ideal conditions with plentiful rainfall, mild temperatures, and nutrient-rich soils. Evolutionary pressures also favored height in dense forests where sunlight is a limited resource.
These natural towers stretch our imaginations just as they stretch into the sky. As climate change and deforestation threaten their survival, preserving these silent giants has never been more important. They are not only biological wonders they are ancient keepers of Earth’s living history.
